Air One executive says not sure if carrier can make bid for Alitalia

GordonSorlini

MILAN (MarketWatch) -- Air One SpA founder Carlo Toto said Thursday he is not sure whether the privately held Italian carrier will be able to submit an offer for Alitalia SpA (AZA.MI) pending a court ruling.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Milan, Toto said that for the moment Air One doesn't know "if it will be able to make an offer for Alitalia."

Toto also added that a decision on the already announced bid for Alitalia "will be taken in a few weeks."

Earlier an executive of Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (ISP.MI), which is advising Air One, said the private airline will wait for the Feb. 20 Rome administrative court decision. A ruling will be made on whether to accept Air One's request that exclusive talks between Alitalia SpA and Air France-KLM
AKH
on the sale of the Italian airline are suspended.

At 1050 GMT shares of Alitalia were flat at EUR0.69 on an overall negative market.

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